Icehawks cling to playoff hopes on the road

Prince Albert Icehawks forward Brett Boyer dragging the puck in a Oct. 10 matchup against the Ochapowache Thunder. Boyers leads the Icehawks with 32 goals and 22 assists in 28 games this season, sitting fourth overall in league scoring. Boyer also sits fourth overall with seven power play goals this season. Herald photo by Andrew Schopp

Sitting four points out of playoff position, the Prince Albert Icehawks have 11 more games to claw their way into the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s second season.

With the value of two points higher than ever, the Icehawks will look to gain some valuable ground in the playoff race as they take on the Saskatoon Westleys on Sunday at Harold Latrace Arena.

Coming off a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Delisle Chiefs on Wednesday, the Icehawks find themselves in the North Division cellar as the Chiefs and Westleys are tied at 26 points for the division’s fifth and final playoff spot.

Posting a record of 0-2-1 against the Westleys this season, the Icehawks will seek a measure of revenge after surrendering a pair of goals in the final minute of regulation to force overtime in their last meeting on Dec. 20.

Westleys captain Karsten Hoenh tallied the game winner in overtime in that meeting, depriving the Icehawks of their first victory against their North Division rivals.

At risk of missing the playoffs for the second straight season, the Icehawks will face both the Chiefs and Weslteys one more time after Sunday’s tilt.

The Icehawks playoff run will also include a pair of matchups against the league- leading Saskatoon Royals who post a record of 24-7-0 and have beaten the Icehawks in all three meetings this season, outscoring them 26-8.

The Icehawks will continue to look to leading scorer Brett Boyer to carry the load offensively. Boyer sits fourth in overall league scoring with 55 points in 28 games this season.

The puck drops at 5 p.m. when the Icehawks take on the Westleys at Harold Latrace Arena on Sunday before their second straight road tilt against the Tri-Town Thunder at Zenon Park on Wednesday.

Prince Albert Icehawks forward Brett Boyer dragging the puck in a Oct. 10 matchup against the Ochapowache Thunder. Boyers leads the Icehawks with 32 goals and 22 assists in 28 games this season, sitting fourth overall in league scoring. Boyer also sits fourth overall with seven power play goals this season. Herald photo by Andrew Schopp